Where's the darn @ sign? (Hello from Italy)
Hello from Rome! It’s currently about 3am here…
First of all — Thank you to everyone who’s messaged and called me over the past several days. It’s truly been a life of extremes that I’m living at the moment.
My heart is heavy, despite the fact that I’m just starting my first real night of vacation in Rome. Reason? When I left, my Dad had been admitted to the hospital, and hadn’t been conscious in days. He’d been taken off of IV, and wasn’t expected to survive more than a few days. I’ve done more crying, soul searching, and grieving in the past few days than I’ve ever had to do in my lifetime. I decided, after much thought, to go on this vacation… I know my Dad would have wanted that. If there was a chance of him gaining consciousness, my decision would have been different.
I can’t thank my close friends (and Penney) enough for the support you’ve so generously given. I’ve really felt alone during this agonizing, painful time (for reasons I won’t be discussing publically) and you guys have done so much to change that.
I actually came online here at the hotel (hotel — that’s a story in itself, see below) to see if my step-Mom (Penney) was online to see if she had any news about my Dad, but I see she’s not around. (Penney, if you see this, please email me at my gmail account which is the account I’m checking while away)
Okay… enough horrifically depressing stuff! Let me give you an overview (forgive the disjointed approach) of my trip so far. Remember, I just arrived in Rome a few hours ago, after leaving Vancouver on Tuesday night.
– NOTE TO SELF: Dont. Wear. Ill. Fitting. Shoes. On. Long. Flights!! …After 10 hours on a plane (in cattle class no less) I absolutely, no matter how hard I tried, could NOT get my left shoe on when the flight was over in London. Err, awkward! I looked RATHER silly walking off the flight with only one shoe on. *sigh*
– OW MY EYES! …In Heathrow, during my extensive (and very delayed, as well) layover, I had the absolute joy of walking into the public ladies room to an entirely unclothed woman, bathing herself with paper towel and soap from the dispenser. Hmmm. Even if she’d been a pleasant woman to look at (read: not even close) I still think there’s far better places to take care of that kinda business… No? Jeesh.
– PLAYING CHICKEN IS A SPORT IN ROME: …Apparently road markings and traffic lights are simply mere suggestions here. Especially when in a cab. My cabbie literally drove down the centre of two lanes during most of the drive, and regularily sped up for red traffic lights, much to the obvious displeasure of oncoming traffic in the intersections. Life. Flashed. Before. Eyes. Too. Many. Times. To. Count. *yikes*
– MY ORIGINAL IMPRESSION OF PEOPLE IN ITALY CHANGED TONIGHT! …When I was at the airport, arriving well beyond by almost two hours the last train leaving for Central Rome, I decided to ask the people in the taxi queue if anyone wanted to share a cab into the city. A very nice business man in front of me happily took me up on my request, and then ended up paying for his entire portion of the journey. Exceptional start!
– OMG! …Coleseum at night! MUCHO more beautiful than I remembered from my last trip here almost two years ago. I definitely need to do some exploring tomorrow!
– HOTEL INSANITY. ** BIG SIGH** I finally arrived at about 10 to 1am at my hotel which was booked through Expedia weeks ago, to find that they didn’t have my reservation. After 30 minutes of waiting at the desk for the guys to figure out the problem (man, are people here a little slow dealing with customer service!!) the guy behind the counter offered me a glass of wine, and a chair near their reception while he talked on the phone for another 30 minutes trying to figure out the problem.
What I found out later? They were completely booked, and someone had deleted my reservationin the system to accomodate someone else. GRRR. So, the hotel paid for a cab to take me to another hotel in the chain, much farther out of the city by about 20 minutes, and certainly not the same quality at all. I finally get checked in here at about 2:20am, go upstairs, to open the door to a NAKED MAN LAYING IN THE BED WITH THE TV ON!!!
Good God. Now I’m mad. I go back downstairs, explain that this isn’t what I paid for (trust me, the naked guy wasn’t uh, attractive… This seems to be a theme of my trip so far… yucky naked people in the wrong places). Another bloody 20 minutes yabbering on the phone by the front desk guy, and I get a room in the other building (after he tried to give me a twin room, because, isn’t it the same as a queen?) Definitely NOT the quality I booked at the other hotel, who will be hearing about my displeasure tomorrow. Bluntly.
…Okay, so there’s my start. A few hours in, and my life of extremes seems to be continuing.
How’s your Wednesday been so far?
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My Wednesday was great. I did a lot of work, submitted a major piece of work on Tuesday. I’m about to head to the liquor store and get a bottle of vodka and I’m going to do martinis for the evening
I think very few people could even come close to the excitement and adventures you’re having right now. Though——I hope you don’t end up like Tom Hank did in the show, “The Man With One Red Shoe(198?)” when he got off the plane???? I truly hope it gets better for you. I know it will. You seem to be running into too many naked people, perhaps that’s a sign????
Anyway, have fun and all the best to your family here in Vancouver.
T, *big hugs* for all the crappy life stuff. And YAY! for all the exciting travel stuff!
Wow, you surely must get the wrong impression of Europe… I haven’t seen a single naked girl or guy running around in public in my whole life here.. well.. except for that guy wearing only a pumpkin on his head at the Wacken Festival in germany…
Anyway, enjoy your trip as best as possible and I wish your family all the best.
Wow. So apparently the title for this trip ought to be “scary nudists I have seen”. Um. Ew. hope any future nudity involves a higher cuteness ratio.
Hugs to you!
Tanya,
It’s been far too long since I’ve commented on your site.
First, let me send my sincere condolences to you regarding your father. I’m so sorry to hear about that. Sending you a mental hug.
Second, I hope you enjoy Italy (despite the challenges you’ve already faced there!) Here’s hoping you open the door to a HOT, naked man.
Very sorry to hear about your dad. *hugs*
Sounds like you’re having a wild time in Italy. Hope your hotel situation is all sorted now. The Colosseum is beautiful at night, I had some awesome nightshot of it when I was there in 2004.
So sorry about your Dad, that’s really awful. My prayers are with you.
Take lots of pictures, girl. I’ll be living vicariously through you.
I wish I were there!!
DO NOT think about work. DO NOT phone in to see how I am coping all by my f’ing self with all the craziness (crazies). It makes for better surprises when you get back!
I’m sorry to hear that about your dad
I do you hope that you have a wonderful time despite the fiasco with the hotels!
Hi Tanya, it was nice to hear from you before you left. Thanks for the call. I can’t tell you how sad I am for you and your family. Big hug to you my friend. It sure sounds “interesting” in Rome.. lol Funny start to your adventures. I can’t wait to hear more about it. Hope to see you when you get back. Lots of love to you and your family at this time. take care Tanya, and have a great trip.
OK, Tanya, when is the Book “Tanya” coming out?
Okay, first… Thanks you guys for your very thoughtful comments. You all mean so much to me.
BUT — SHAWN?? What do you mean? WHERE’S JASE??? And, I’m now concerned??? Why are you by YOURSELF??
And f***, um, I dont want to think about surprises at the moment, really. Could you please just email so I’m not worrying more? Not good. Thanks. Of course I’m going to take work seriously while I’m away. Thanks again.
Hmmmm. There’s definitely good naked and bad naked. Sorry you had to see that.